Fast & dependable pest management & prevention services.

Mites

Resource Page

Mites are tiny arthropods that belong to the Arachnida class of insect-like organisms. While the majority of mites are harmless, some may bite and cause skin irritation to humans. There are thousands of mite species. Many species live in the soil or foliage and a number are parasitic on plants or animals.

How do I know if I have Mites?

It can be difficult to see mites clearly without magnification; however, identifying mites depends primarily on the species. For example, clover mites have a bright red coloration that can easily be seen. Another way of noticing mites is that at times movement of mites across a surface can be detected. Mites such as spider mites can produce webbing and silk. They can also cause discoloration of leaves that eventually drop. Some of the more common species of mites can be more specifically identified as described below:

Dust Mites

Dust Mites are difficult to see with the naked eye, yet they are common in house dust.

One mattress can contain thousands and thousands of dust mites.

Nearly 100,000 mites can live in one square yard of carpet.

Clover Mites

Clover mites are common in and around Minnesota homes primarily in the fall and spring.

During the fall, clover mites crawl into cracks around windows or in foundation walls, under siding, behind shingles and shakes, and can then be found on window

skills, walls, tables, or other furniture.

Clover Mites tend to congregate on the sunny side of the house.

Although cold winter weather slows down the activity of Clover Mites, they return in the spring.

Spider Mites

Spider mites can be spotted by a mottled or pin-prick yellow discoloration on the undersides of leaves.

They are common in a wide variety of plants including arborvitae, spruce, ash, rose, and beans.

If you suspect spider mites on discolored leaves, hold a white sheet of paper or paper plate under the leaves and shake the leaves or plant (tiny spider-like creatures will drop and move around the paper)

Bird and Rodent Mites

Bird and Rodent Mites parasitize poultry, wild birds, and rodents. They may be present after birds or rodents have been removed and can bite humans.

Although these mites are only about 1/32 inch long, they can be spotted by the naked eye.

Scabies Mites (Sarcoptes scabies)

Scabies is an itchy skin irritation caused by a burrowing mite called Sarcoptes scabies.

Signs of Scabies Mites include thick, irregular burrow tracks that result in tiny blisters or bumps on the human skin.

Symptoms include severe itching that tends to be worse at night and typically appears in the folds of your skin.

WHAT DO MITES LOOK LIKE?

Although there are thousands of mite species, most species measure less than 1/25 inch in length, have four pairs of legs, and their bodies have a prosoma (front part) and abdomen.

Dust Mites

House dust mites are visible with the aid of a microscope (adult dust mites are about 1/50 inch in length).

Dust mites are globular-shaped, clear or creamy colored with hairs on their legs and bodies

Dermatophagoides farina is the most common North American house dust mite.

D.pteronyssinus is the most common European house dust mite.

Clover Mites

Clover Mites have a bright red or reddish-brown body and are not as big as the head of a pin, however, they can be seen with the naked eye.

Spider Mites

Spider Mites are oval shaped with yellowish or greenish color.

Spider mites are roughly 1/50” in length and are very difficult to see without a microscope.

Bird and Rodent Mites

Bird and Rodent Mites are visible with the naked eye measuring about 1/32” in length.

Bird and Rodent Mites may be visible after infected birds or rodents are removed.

Scabies Mites

Female Scabies Mites are eight-legged crawling mites that can burrow into human skin and are only 1/100 – 1/75 inch in length.

Scabies Mites can only be seen with a magnifying glass or microscope.

ARE MITES DANGEROUS?

Dust Mites

House dust mites do not bite or sting humans and are not parasitic, however, they contain powerful allergens

Allergy symptoms of House Dust Mites can include stuffy or a runny nose , sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, bronchial asthma, hay fever, eczema, and other diseases.

House Dust Mites that are either alive or dead contain shed skins and feces that are responsible for the allergy-producing reactions in humans.

Clover Mites

Clover Mites are not parasitic and they do not pose a health threat to humans or pets.

Testimonials

"Of course no one ever desires to call an exterminator, but for having to do so Adam's was the perfect fit for our needs. Tim L., a Technician for Adam's, was assigned to our account and we were... "Read More